"If I were to strike a deal with you, could I return home then?"
"No. At the moment, your deals are pinned to this world, not the one you came from."
"All right."
Left with no choice, her hope of returning was again dashed.
"What suddenly made you want to go back? Don't you still plan on pursuing the Demon King?"
Rei Ao was a bit curious what had prompted Emilia to want to return, as by his standards she shouldn't be doing too badly here.
"The Demon King"
Better not mention that. As soon as he did, Emilia rolled her eyes.
"Here in your place you have a holy motherly angel, devils, and you, so obviously I can't just kill whoever I want, can I? And with you here, I'm sure you wouldn't let him carry out any wrongdoing."
It wasn't like she didn't want to slice the Demon King. She ground her teeth at the thought that the Demon King, who had wreaked havoc in the Holy Cross Continent, was calmly living in this peaceful world.
Rei Ao said, "That much I can guarantee. But that's probably not the real reason you want to go back, is it?"
" "
Pressed for answers, Emilia's eyes shifted, half embarrassed, half annoyed.
"IIt's because you people make noise day in and day out, and I can't sleep properly!"
In this house, each day's clamor left her body all overheated, brimming with anger and shame. She just didn't fit in here at all.
"That's it?"
Rei Ao laughed.
"If you don't want to hear those noises, then hurry up and figure out how to earn money, pay rent, and find your own place."
"Hmph! I don't need you to tell me thatI'd have done it anyway!"
Emilia stood up, all stiff pride. "Tomorrow, I have an interview. Just watchbefore long, I'll definitely move out of here!"
So saying, she left with an air of bravado. Rei Ao simply let her go. It would be interesting, he thought, seeing the hero turned "salarywoman."
Hagun Academy.
Today the academy was as tranquil as ever, yet Stella felt anything but calm. She had watched Rei Ao's 1v4 livestream in its entirety and felt her whole body growing hot. Her mind kept generating various forbidden images.
So in class she was unfocused, sometimes breathing heavily, sometimes squirming in her seat.
"Hmm?"
From the podium, the teacher keenly noticed Stella's strange state. Said teacher looked like a petite young girl, but few would guess that under her seemingly youthful exterior, she possessed tremendous power.
Saikyo Nene.
A temporary teacher at Hagun Academy. One of only three Desperados in Japan. Also an active KOK A-league competitor, ranked third worldwide. Her Device was an iron fan, her ability controlling gravity as a form of natural interference.
"Oh my~"
She opened her folding fan to cover her face, squinting at Stella with a piercing smile. Stella was arguably the student with the greatest promise at Hagun. As an old friend of Shinguuji Kurono, Saikyo Nene had the qualifications to learn in detail about Stella's circumstances.
But she hadn't expected the hopeful star of Hagun Academy to be going into "heat" right there in her classhow entertaining. Her eyesight was fierce, picking up even the faintest details. She was certain Stella was in a lustful state.
She planned to watch for a bit longer
"!!!"
All at once, a razor-sharp aura made her stand. She looked solemnly toward the window. The students, startled by their teacher's sudden movement, had no idea why she had become so tense.
They also didn't realize that an uninvited guest had arrived at Hagun Academy.
On the academy walkway, a figure walked steadily forward, eyes cold. She wore silvery-white armor shaped like a dress, and her snow-colored hair fluttered in the wind. An aura of "keep your distance" emanated from her entire being.
" "
Abruptly, she halted, looking ahead. Shinguuji Kurono had appeared at some point, already summoning her Device. She stared at the white-haired woman, asking in a heavy tone, "Youwhy have you come here?"
"I heard someone say there's a swordsman here worth seeing."
The white-haired woman spoke in a frosty voice to match her cold appearance.
" "
Kurono felt a pounding headache. The one before her was, in her mind, the single most troublesome individual, bar none.
Edelweiss.
Nickname: Twin Wings.
A Blazer not affiliated with the Mage-Knight Alliances, clad all in white, resembling a valkyrie. The world's strongest swordsman, the highest pinnacle, also called the most evil criminal alive.
Her power was so overwhelming that even the International Mage-Knight Alliance gave up trying to arrest her.
Kurono knew a bit of the background of this strongest fighter in the world. Fifteen years ago, she had single-handedly intervened in a war between two major powers, "The Union" and "The League."
Using swordsmanship alone, she slaughtered an army of three hundred thousand on both sides. After that incident, both sides placed a bounty on Edelweiss"Twin Wings"and strived to apprehend her, but to no avail. Confronted by her near-otherworldly might, all attempts proved fruitless. At last, the Alliance realized the futility and abandoned that region, never to tread upon Edel's domain again.
Now, such an existence that even the Alliance dreaded had arrived at Hagun Academy. Kurono wanted no conflict with her. She was no match, and one misstep would endanger the entire academy.
" "
After a moment of silence, she retracted her Device.
"What do you intend to do?"
Edelweiss remained icy and silent, uttering only two words:
"Bear witness."
~~~
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Chapter 380: Challenge Against Blazer Student, and secret of Utaha...
A sudden announcement at Hagun Academy.
All Blazers ranked B or above are to gather at the dueling grounds. This includes Stella, Kurogane Shizuku, Toudou Touka and even Kurogane Ikki, among others.
"What's going on now?"
Stella's eyes showed confusion.
They had been in the middle of class, and no one knew why this had popped up out of nowhere.
Kurogane Shizuku glanced over at Toudou Touka. "President, do you know what's happening?"
Pushing up her glasses, Touka shook her head. "Sorry, I don't."
"All right, guess we'll just have to see."
Before long, a woman appeared at the center of the dueling ground.
Touka's gaze sharpened. She fixed her stare on that woman.
"That person is really strong."
Even though she was just standing there, Touka could feel a fierce aura emanating toward herandkilling intent.
[Everyone take note: this will be a special lesson. Each of you will challenge the special-instruction teacher in turn!]
Right then, the broadcast rang out with Shinguuji Kurono's voice.
Hearing it was a special lesson, everyone set aside their confusion and started to get excited.
In a separate vantage area:
Saikyo Nene narrowed her eyes.
"Heh, Kurono, are you trying to send them off to die?"
Though no one else knew who stood in the center of the dueling ground, she certainly did.
" "
Shinguuji Kurono's brow furrowed, likewise helpless. In a cold tone, she said, "This is the best arrangement I could negotiate with Twin Wings. If we don't do it this way, even we can't stop her from doing anything."
" "
It sounded pathetic, but Saikyo Nene had to concede it was the truth. That woman was just that terrifying.
"Tch, guess we just have to pray my students get through it. Let's hope I haven't just taught them a few days only for them to drop dead."
Nene lightly shook her folding fan. Her words sounded casual, but her gaze has not budged from Edelweiss's movements out on the dueling ground. She was fully prepared to act at any moment.
Even as a temporary instructor, Saikyo Nene still had her professional ethics as a teacher. She wouldn't just stand idle if her own students were about to be killed right in front of her.
" "
Shinguuji Kurono likewise would not allow anything of the sort. She still had a trump card: she could make a trade request to Rei Ao.
This could serve as a trial for the studentsafter all, it's not every day one gets to spar against the world's strongest.
Meanwhile
Kasumigaoka Utaha received a phone call from her editor, Machida Sonoko.
"Utaha, I read your new manuscript. It's really well written."
"Is that so?"
Hearing that, Kasumigaoka's lips curved into a satisfied smile. Not long ago, she'd finished her work, Love Metronome. But Utaha hadn't stoppedshe'd decided to write a brand-new piece.
It was titled The Fourfold Romance in Another World. It basically told the story of a young woman meeting a boy who holds the secret to linking with another world. They travel on a fantastical journey together, and during that journey, sparks of romance fly.
Indeed, that outline had a strong sense of dj vu. Even Machida Sonoko could smell something off.
"Utaha, tell me: this heroine of yours isn't based on you, is she? A black-haired, sharp-tongued beauty?"
"Uh"
Kasumigaoka was at a loss for words. Was it that obvious?
"And the male leadyou're sure he isn't Rei Ao, right? Utaha, you're not being honest."
"Ahem, I have no idea what you're talking about. I just happened to get some inspiration."
Utaha tried to sound righteous.
She wasn't being "dishonest," exactly. She'd simply drawn her inspiration from real life, that's all.
"Oh, really now?"
Machida Sonoko switched to 'breakdown' mode.
"Well, Utaha, could you explain how, in your new book, you're describing the male lead with black, somewhat messy hair, sapphire-blue eyes, a perfectly sculpted eight-pack?"
She recited every detail of the male lead's appearance that Utaha had written, then added: "Don't you think that all precisely matches my darling Rei Ao? Even down to the shape of his collarbones. Don't tell me that every time Rei Ao does a livestream, you secretly watch it, thenmess around with yourself under the covers?"
"SStop spouting nonsense!!!"
Utaha frantically cut her off. If this went on, all her secrets would be exposed! It felt like she was being monitored by a hidden camera or something, making her extremely uneasy.
"All right, all right, I won't say more."
"But c'mon, Utaha, you're obviously in heat, and the target is Rei Ao."
"I'm just saying, if you like him, why not confess? Rei Ao is basically open to all."
"And even if you won't confess, you could be hissex partner. Better that than messing around alone in bed, right?"
"???"
Machida Sonoko rattled off words that left Utaha dumbfounded. Talk about scandalous language!
Still, there was one thing Machida said that wasn't wrong: Utaha did have a special feeling for Rei Ao. But she had no good timing, no clue how to express herself, and it was driving her crazy.
"All right, that's enough from me. Your new book is definitely signed."
"As for Rei Ao, you'd better think hard. Otherwise, in the future you might be the one tasting that perfect 'excalibur' after who knows how many others."
"???"
Utaha felt like murdering someone. Her editor was getting ever more outrageous, with zero filter.
"Oh, right, I'll send you some of my prized collection to help relieve your worries."
Very soon, Kasumigaoka received, in the chat group's private messages, a batch of photos from Machida Sonoko. She clicked them open and was startled by the imposing presence of that "excalibur." Not only that, there were images of a perfect eight-pack, chest muscles, etc.all pictures of Rei Ao. It made Utaha's face crimson.
"These are my treasures, so no need to thank me~ Bye-bye," said Machida as she hung up.
" "
Staring at that crystal-clear photo of a certain imposing region, Utaha's mouth fell open, heart pounding. She mustered some stubborn disdain, "Like I'd ever need stuff like this."
But even as she said so, she casually saved them.
"That's enough writing for one day, I suppose."
Utaha forcibly suppressed a certain heated sensation, awkwardly heading toward the bathroom.
~~~
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Chapter 381: Stella is out of Control Again... (Bonus Chapter)
Hagun Academy.
"..."
Inside the dueling arena, everything was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
It wasn't for no reason. Simply put, almost everyone who went up to challenge that woman would see just one glance of hers and freeze, unable to speak or move surrendering on the spot. She didn't even draw her weapon.
Up to now, only three people had forced her to draw her sword: Ikki Kurogane, Shizuku Kurogane, and Touka Toudou. Even then, they all lost to her.
Edelweiss gave them all the same assessment:
"I won't kill you. Your futures don't end here."
Although it sounded like praise, it was also the lofty gaze of a strong person looking down on those weaker. Naturally, it left them frustrated, but there was nothing they could do. This woman's strength was terrifying. Her level of swordsmanship far surpassed anything people understood.
She moved as silently as the wind, meaning every movement was so precise that she never wasted any force or made any noise. Moreover, her every action operated well beyond normal human limits.
She could go from "zero to one hundred" in an instant, extremes of stillness and motion. To achieve such an immediate release of strength, ordinary human neural signals wouldn't suffice. One would have to fundamentally modify the brain's neural signaling to send a denser, more compressed "combat signal." That was the root of Edelweiss's power.
"Hmph, let me challenge you!"
Stella summoned the Lvateinn Sword. Ever since losing to Touka Toudou, she'd been honing her sword skills night and day. One might say she'd been completely reborn, going several levels up.
"Come,"
Edelweiss said blandly, as though nothing could so much as stir the calm in her gaze.
And indeed, things played out just like that. Stella launched her attack. Whether controlling flame or wielding her sword, she was far stronger than before. Yet even so, Edelweiss shattered it all with a single slash.
"That's enough."
Having gauged Stella's skill, Edelweiss halted her sword. She felt no need to continue. It was the same verdict as for Touka and the rest.
But Stella couldn't stand giving up so easily. She took a deep breath. Her eyes turned razor-sharp.
"It's not over yet!"
She was about to use that power:
True Crimson Dragon God!
Roar!!!
A dragon's roar shook the skies.
